Russian investigators have said “criminal negligence” caused the crash at a Moscow airport that resulted in the death of Total’s chief executive.
Christophe de Margerie died along with three crew members when his corporate jet collided with a snow plough.
Federal investigators said the driver of the snow plough was drunk, and managers at the airport “negligent”.
Mr Margerie, who had headed French firm Total since 2007, was once of the oil industries most recognisable leaders.
The Investigations Committee of Russia, a federal agency which answers to President Vladimir Putin, is investigating the crash.
“It is already obvious that the cause of the events was not at all a horrific tragic confluence of circumstances, which is how representatives of the airport are trying to present it, but criminal negligence by officials who could not ensure the coordinated actions of airport employees,” said committee spokesman Vladimir Markin.
Several officials at the airport were likely to be suspended, according to Mr Markin, and the role of air traffic controllers is also being assessed, BBC informs.
